Industry News

As it moves ahead with its hydraulic hybrid drivetrain system, Lightning Hybrids announced today that Colorado State University will retrofit two internal delivery trucks with its fuel-efficient hydraulic hybrid systems, paid for by a grant from the Colorado Energy Office (CEO). The vehicles — 2012 GMC trucks — are the first medium duty trucks to use a hybrid system. They will be put into delivery service on campus....More

Industrial Careers Pathway (ICP) redesigned its website to attract more job seekers to careers in industrial distribution and manufacturing. The mobile-enabled site is divided into three sections. The Work section highlights positions in a dynamic feed on every page; allows users to post resumes; and features social media feeds and video testimonials....More

Hydraulic cylinders actuate and position the end section of this 15-ft highway power mower, manufactured by Engler Mfg. Co., Houston. The mower was designed to follow the contour of the terrain without scalping ridges and high spots. It also enables the operator to raise either end section when the mower nears obstacles such as mailboxes, utility poles or concrete culverts....More

Ideas & Applications

In support of the growing trend towards using hydraulic fan drive systems, Comatrol, a member of the Sauer‐Danfoss Group, released two new product lines at Bauma China — RFDE reversing fan drive HICs and directional control valves. Comatrol said the new product lines are a continuation of its focus on high flow directional controls in 2012, and its continued investments in fan drive solutions for efficiently controlling the speed and reversing functions of hydraulic fan systems....More

Spool-type valves are widely used because they can be shifted to two, three, or more positions for routing fluid between different combinations of inlet and outlet ports. They are used extensively for directional control of actuators because a single valve can produce extension, retraction, and neutral of a cylinder or forward, reverse, and neutral of a motor....More

Motion Control

System design requires that components supply pressure adjusted so that the operating envelope encompasses the worst case force-speed operating point. An infinite number of combinations exists that will accomplish this, so some other strategies must be applied to reduce the number of possibilities....More

Automate with Air

Energy-efficient pneumatic circuit design often involves mounting valves as close as possible to the actuator. Reducing the length of tubing between a valve and actuator ­— and with it the volume of compressed air required for each actuator cycle — can cut compressed air consumption by as much as 20%....More

Handling fragile workplaces, such as drinking glasses, plastic or glass bottles, and other items with circular openings can be tricky. DHEB series of bellows grippers from Festo can be used across a variety of processing and manufacturing industries to avoid breakage and make smooth, controlled transfers.
DHEB grippers employ flexible bellows that expand in diameter when actuated by an integral pneumatically driven piston, to securely grip the interior surface of a
work piece....More

Work Truck Show Preview

The Work Truck Show, held in conjunction with the annual NTEA Convention, features the newest products, dozens of intensive training programs and technical engineering support from hundreds of exhibitors, including a number of hydraulic and pneumatic suppliers to the trucking industry....More

Barko Hydraulics, Superior, Wis., says its 80XL back-of-cab knuckleboom loader delivers the highest payload with the lowest installed weight ratio and provides the lowest cost of operation of any product on the market. It also comes equipped with more standard features and is said to last longer and perform harder than its competitors....More

Industry Focus: Agriculture

You seldom hear happy peasants singing in the vineyard as they hand-pick grapes at harvest time today. As in most agricultural operations, efficient machines have taken over the work of the harvest. However, because vineyards come in all sizes, and are planted on almost all kinds of terrain, equipment-manufacturer Oxbo International Corp., Lynden, Wash., offers a variety of harvesters, planters, and other agricultural equipment, most of which make extensive use of hydraulics....More

MRO

In order to maximize the service life of hydraulic equipment, all you need to do is keep the oil clean, cool and dry. It’s an old adage. And a simple one. But like most things hydraulic once you scratch the surface, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
Not only that, there’s an important first-step missing. It should be: Use the right oil and then keep it clean, cool and dry....More

When operators at a John Deere equipment facility in Iowa were experiencing difficulties with the hydrostatic transmission on an excavator, they determined the problem came from the excavator’s hydraulics system. Dirt and debris within the hydraulic system were getting into fluids traveling to the hydrostatic transmission, causing failure and costly down time. The solution seemed simple: clean the hydraulic system’s hose and tube assemblies using a traditional fluid flushing method. After the procedure was completed, the excavator was up and running again....More

Troubleshooting Challenge

A contractor was awarded a contract to build a hydraulic system that needed 60 gpm flow at up to 1000 psi, then a controlled flow from 20 down to 3 gpm in 12 sec, then up again to 2200 psi. It then had to return at full speed with a maximum required return pres...More

Useful Products

NITRA pneumatic product line now includes F-Series air cylinders for wash-down applications. Non-repairable round body air cylinders are interchangeable with other brands. Double-acting cylinders have a 250 psi operating pressure and are constructed with corrosion resistant 300 Series stainless steel and Teflon-based rod and pivot bushings. Urethane rod wiper keeps wash-down solutions out of the cylinder. Series includes bore sizes from ¾- to 2 in. and stroke lengths from ½- to 18 in....More

Alfagomma Flexor spiral hydraulic hoses are available in sizes from 1⁄4 to 2 in. Four-wire -12 is rated for maximum working pressures from 17.5 to 28 MPa (2500 to 4000 psi). Four-wire 4SP is rated for pressures of 28 to 45 MPa (4000 to 6550) psi. Four-wire 4SH is rated for maximum working pressure of 25 to 42 MPa (3650 to 6000 psi). Four- or six-wire -13 is rated for maximum working pressures of 35 MPa (5000 psi)....More

N500 series high-pressure, spring-rewind reel is designed for efficient hydraulic or air hose handling. Heavy-duty spring motor with self-contained rewind power, four-way roller assembly and a declutching arbor prevent against damage from reverse winding....More